Iver and the others definitely couldn't tell the villagers about their plan.
That was because the "swamp" was considered the Forbidden Area of Eagle Cape Village. Not only outsiders—even among the locals, not everyone could approach it whenever they pleased.
Fortunately, they had a "traitor" among them.
Using the investigation into Iver's grandfather Jacob's past as an excuse—which was indeed what they were about to do—they ate a little food to fill their stomachs early in the morning and then set off.
They had even brought Hai Na's griffin along for the trip.
Although Hai Na was completely unaware that anything was wrong, she had absolute faith in Iver and Sherlock's minds.
Now that both of them claimed there were great secrets and unknown dangers in this village... Hai Na had chosen to trust them without hesitation. Since that was the case, her adorable little griffin Liz couldn't leave her sight.
With Hai Na leading the way, they wouldn't get lost. The group headed straight for the swamp.
As they listened to Hai Na describe the village's layout along the way, Iver gradually came to understand its geography.
There was a large lake on each side of Eagle Cape Village. The one in the northeast was the famous Sapphire Lake of Bagpipe Town. From the easternmost edge of Eagle Cape Village, they could reach the lake by passing through a stretch of Dense Forest.
The lake in the southwest was equally beautiful—and slightly closer to Eagle Cape Village. Reaching it didn't require crossing the Dense Forest. Instead, there was a sufficiently wide downhill path covered in soft grass.
William and the others usually chose this place when they went fishing. William's lakeside cabin was beside this lake as well.
As for the swamp—it was technically already outside the village. It